For foreign authorities

The Central Adoption Agency is the Central Authority in the sense of the Hague Adoption Convention (HAC) for the Rhineland region. It is responsible for the mediation of intercountry adoptions from HAC contracting states.

International adoptions are governed by the Hague Adoption Convention and the Adoption Placement Act.

The welfare of the child is always the central concern: adoptions must safeguard the child’s fundamental rights and are carried out under strict procedures designed to protect children from abduction, sale, and trafficking.

During the fulfilment of its tasks, the Central Adoption Agency of the Rhineland State Youth Welfare Office works closely together with the Central Adoption Agencies of the other state youth welfare offices in Germany and with the Central Federal Office for Intercountry Adoptions of the Federal Office of Justice.

The work of the Central Adoption Agency Rhineland covers:

  • Adoption mediation of children living in a foreign country;
  • Consultation for youth welfare offices, voluntary organisations, family courts, notaries, registry offices and immigration authorities regarding legal questions about intercountry adoptions;
  • Expert assessment duties during family court adoption proceedings with an international element.

Which offices in Germany are allowed to arrange foreign adoptions?

The mediation of foreign adoptions is exclusively allowed to:

  • Central Adoption Agencies of state youth welfare offices,
  • Accredited bodies

Adoption applicants can contact the Central Adoption Agency responsible for their place of residence or any accredited body troughout Germany.

Adress

Rhineland Regional Council
State Youth Welfare Office
Central Adoption Agency
D-50663 Cologne

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